Jane Eaglen won Artist of the Year a second time in 1998/99 for her performance as Isolde in “Tristan und Isolde.” (She also won Artist of the Year for her 1994 debut, as Norma.) Seattle Opera’s 1998 production of TRISTAN UND ISOLDE, directed by Francesca Zambello, featured the role debuts of Eaglen and Ben Heppner as the star-crossed lovers. Peter Rose made his Seattle Opera debut in the production as King Marke.

Here, from the final moments of the first act, the lovers, having imbibed what they both think is poison, express their wildly passionate attraction in Wagner's feverish, chromatic music. After all, they think they've got nothing to lose at this point. But Brangäne (Michelle DeYoung), Isolde's handmaid, encourages her mistress to get a grip; the ship is coming into port, and Isolde is about to be presented to the man she must marry, King Marke. The sailors (the men of the Seattle Opera chorus above, body-builder supernumeraries recruited from local competitions and gyms below) loudly salute the king, and Kurwenal (Greer Grimsley) bounds up to Tristan, gleefully. The orchestra of Seattle Opera was conducted by Armin Jordan. Photo by Gary Smith.